Blaise Pascal (1972)
As my son is named after this theologian/philosopher/scientist, a work buddy lent me this made for TV bio-pic, now a part of the Criterion Collection. The production is both elaborate in its sets and costumes, and yet quite simple in its script. The film essentially follows Blaise Pascal from his late teens through to his death giving him opportunity to speak some of his writings out loud and with props. There is little story or character development. In fact the setting draws the viewer in most as we are exposed to Catholic politics, scientific rivalries, provincial taxation, and superstitions.
The movie is slow, but full of Pascal's genius, so it's well worth the 2+ hours of view time.
IMDB
A great skill was used to develop the film I just watched. It paints the portrait of celebrated and groundbreaking 19th century Norwegian artist Edvard Munch - famous for "The Scream." For three hours and forty minutes we survey scenes from Munch's life filmed as though it were a documentary where the characters are aware of the camera. Some characters are interviewed. Munch's diary is read as it was written, in the third person. And a narrator pronounces the chronology.
We get a fascinating historical look at the early 1970s in this cat and mouse thriller. A detective uses all means possible to thwart an elaborate plot to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle. There is a bit of melodrama, but essentially the film is saved by the sleepless detective who has an army of people in several countries combing through paper files as they try to identify the hit man hired by a terrorist organization (it wouldn't have been nearly as engaging if they had the internet and electronic databases at their disposal).
This Russian adaptation of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment paces itself like the book, taking ample time inside protagonist Rodya Raskolnikov's head. It is done in black and white and the lack of colour adds the only other real joyless feature to the film beyond the glorious performances by the actors - who are unknown to the west.
Dr. Seuss's tale of an elephant who discovers a world on a speck of dust is lovingly animated in this classic. I haven't seen the digital remake, so I can't compare the two, but I really enjoyed this offering. 
This classic has inspired a slew of caper films and still holds its own against them. Paul Newman and Robert Redford demonstrate class and wit as they swindle an even more evil swindler.
Gene Hackman acts in this early film noir that helped sustain his status as a serious actor. He plays a wire tapper private investigator who stumbles upon a crime that is going to happen. Throughout the film he struggles with what his action should be as his job could facilitate the crime. Some great twists.
A young Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek bring young love to a disturbing end. This early Terrence Malick takes a first person look at violence in America. 
Federico Fellini is one of those filmmakers that I am not allowed to avoid as an enthusiast, and while I can certainly appreciate his otherworldly genre and his profound effect on cinema, his films can be rather tedious to watch.
I've wanted to see this film ever since I studied the script in Robert McKee's screenplay bible "Story." 
Robert Altman barely holds this largely incoherent film together with a couple fool doctors. 
I honestly didn't have high expectations for a futuristic film from George Lucas as I'm not a 
Hercule Poirot delivers a masterful performance through Albert Finney. A snow trapped train in Yugoslavia gives detective Poirot time to investigate the murder of one of the passengers. He interviews each of the distinguished and oddball international passengers while deftly maneuvering through red herrings.
I watched this over 3 nights. I didn't realize to begin with that it was 200 minutes long!
I rewatched it tonight. A true masterpiece of deception, betrayal, and the descent into darkness juxtaposed with honesty, loyalty and the continual rise of the Corleone family.
